FORT MYERS, Fla. – The LIU softball team opened their season in Florida at the FGCU Kickoff Classic against the host Eagles in Fort Myers. Despite a hot start in the first inning with four RBI, the Sharks fell 13-5.

SHARK BITES

• In the top of the first, junior Maya Avila started off the season for the Sharks with a double.
• Senior Camryn Lyman singled and advanced to second, pushing Avila to third.
• Grad student Kiana Cisneros put LIU on the board first, with a double that would score Availa.
• With Cisneros on second and Lyman on third, freshman Desiree Smith cleared the bases with a home run, to make it 4-0 Sharks.
• The Eagles were able to put themselves on the board with a run in the bottom of the first off of three hits, to make it 4-1.
• Nothing was going for either team in the second or third inning, but in the fourth the Eagles struck back and scored six runs off of five hits and one error to go up 7-4.
• In the top of the fifth, Avila got on base with a double and junior Alexis Toledo was put in as a pinch runner. Toledo was able to advance to third off of a single from Lyman. Ciara Granado's RBI ground out was enough to bring her home, to cut the lead to 7-5.
• In the bottom of the fifth, FGCU would score six runs on five hits and one error to claim the walk-off five inning win.
• Elena Valenzuela got the start on the mount, pitching 3.0 innings. Smith (0-1) got the loss on the mound in 1.1 innings of work.
• Up next, the Sharks take on Kent State, Friday, February 11 at 10 a.m.